Iran, US agree to reconvene after ‘positive’ talks
"Productive" nuclear talks between Iran and the United States have concluded after more than two hours in Oman, with both sides set to reconvene next week.
national security
Appetite for destruction: nation’s food security threat
Australia's food security is taken for granted and urgent action is needed to address a growing range of risks and threats, experts warn.
Finnish president’s golf diplomacy in surprise US visit
After talking about annexing Greenland, Donald Trump has played golf with the prime minister of Finland - the world's leading producer of icebreakers.
Tariff fickleness sparks call for business to diversify
Australia is still pushing for an exemption to US tariffs but businesses are waking up to the possibility they may need to be flexible to mitigate their impact.
Cause for Australian optimism despite US-Ukraine stoush
Australian ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd has launched a staunch defence of the alliance between the two nations amid a shake up under Donald Trump.
US sending ‘tectonic changes’ over security commitments
If the US pulls all support for Ukraine, it could send a dangerous signal about its commitment to security in the Pacific, the Ukrainian ambassador says.
Appeal looms for ‘vulnerable’ war crimes whistleblower
A man who leaked classified defence documents supporting allegations that war crimes were committed by Australian special forces is appealing his conviction.
Australian companies invited to invest in Ukraine
Ukraine is calling on Australian companies to boost investment alongside the US after President Donald Trump pushed for a mineral extraction deal to recoup aid.
Taiwan reaches out as China shrugs at Tasman navy drill
China employs grey-zone tactics to push the boundaries and create a new normal, says a Taiwanese envoy as the major power downplays its naval presence.
Plots to kill people in Australia foiled by spy agency
Plots by foreign agents to lure and kill dissidents have been foiled by the nation's spy agency, with at least three countries targeting people in Australia.
Espionage and terror threats grow in dangerous era
From hostile foreign nations targeting diaspora communities to youth radicalised online, the top spy agency's annual threat assessment warns risks have grown.
Deadly warning over Chinese military ‘intimidation’
Security experts fear repeated and dangerous near-misses involving the Chinese military could lead to serious injury or a potential loss of life.
Call for ‘data diplomacy’ with China after DeepSeek ban
Chinese AI platform DeepSeek has been banned from government use over security concerns, but experts say more must be done to protect Australians' information.
Trump ‘scraps extension of protections for Venezuelans’
The Trump administration has reportedly revoked an extension of deportation protections for Venezuelans that former US president Joe Biden had granted.
Senate confirms Noem as Trump’s homeland security chief
The Senate has confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security boss, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of an agency set to clamp down on illegal migration.
Australia boosts Solomons support as China pact stopgap
A security pact between Australia and Solomon Islands will strengthen the Pacific nation's domestic police force and reduce the need for any Chinese assistance.
Australian destroyers to join UK show of force
Two Australian navy destroyers will take part in exercises with a British carrier strike group that will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific in 2025.
China benched, PNG takes field in sport-security pact
Australia is putting $600 million towards a team from Papua New Guinea joining the NRL but will pull its support if Port Moresby breaks "strategic trust".
China locked out of Nauru security in Australian pact
Australia needs to agree to Nauru entering a security or banking agreement with a third country after signing a treaty to prop up the Pacific nation's budget.
New routes to secure internet for Australia, Pacific
New cables will entrench Australia's role as a state-of-the-art connection point for large volumes of data in a global digital ecosystem, project partners say.
Tycoon Lai denies lobbying US on China and Hong Kong
Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai has testified in his landmark national security trial, saying he never asked the US to intervene during the city's 2019 protests.
APEC leaders to open summit amid Trump uncertainty
Major leaders are gathering in Peru for APEC, including outgoing US President Joe Biden as the return of his successor Donald Trump hangs over the forum.
US election result a bigger picture for Australian ties
A new president won't change the US-Australia relationship but it could alter how other nations interact with Australia, a former ambassador says.
Australia moves missile build onshore as supply dries
The proliferation of long-range strike missiles and firepower is forcing Australia to respond by bolstering its own stockpiles as concerns persist about supply.
US Secret Service needs ‘fundamental reform’: report
The US Secret Service has "deep flaws" that need to be resolved urgently, a report says.
Renewables option as climate change fuels conflict
Australia can take advantage of its geography and become energy independent as the risk of conflict over resources spikes, an ex-military general says.
Defence scientists ready for China’s ‘grey’ warfighting
Defence science is proving crucial as smaller powers stand up to China and Russia but can also be used to deter war in an increasingly uncertain future.
PM launches Gaza visa attack on ‘hypocritical’ Dutton
Anthony Albanese has defended the government's approach to issuing visas to Palestinians, accusing the opposition of confecting outrage on the issue.
NZ pushes to enter exclusive AUKUS security pact
Australia is open to bringing close partners and allies to a close-knit security pact as it works with the US and UK to build cutting-edge military tech.
Lack of social media enforcement behind radicalisation
Security experts say governments not regulating social media in its early years may have led to young people being more easily radicalised online.
‘Be aware but not afraid’: plots raise terrorism threat
A string of alleged terror plots investigated by Australia's intelligence agency led to the threat level being increased for the first time in a decade.